Gas-main stopper.



Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

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WITNESSES ATTORNE Y8 nonw. n QIMUI 99. mini. wmuamu. n c.

PATRICK GOODMAN,

or NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS-MAIN STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Application filed May 14, 1909. Serial No. 495,981.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK GOODMAN, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York,borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda new and Improved Gas Main Stopper, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The invention is an improvement in gas main stoppers of the characterfor which.

Letters Patent Number 591,271 were granted to me October 5, 1897, thesame embodying a collapsible spring frame having a flexible diaphragmwhich is expanded by exerting pressure at diametrically opposite points,and having handle-bars pivotally connected at or near said points tocontrol the position of the diaphragm in the main.

The present invention contemplates means to simultaneously force one ofthe handlebars inwardly and draw the other handlebar outwardly to lockthe stopper crosswise of the gas main.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a gas main, showing astopper embodying my improvements in a position pre paratory toexpanding it; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stopper fullyexpanded and locked in position; Fig. 3 is an inner face View of thestopper partly in central vertical section; and Fig. 4; is an inner faceview of the stopper when fully expanded.

The stopper embodies in its construction a collapsible spring framecovered by a yielding packing and having a flexible diaphragm 11, thediaphragm being stretched across the frame in circular form by exertingpressure on the frame at diametrically opposite points. At these pointsthe frame is provided with pivotally-connected telescoping members 12and 12 bridging the diaphragm, and pivotally-connected handle bars 13and 14:, each bar being provided with a suitable hand-grip 15. I

The construction thus far described is of that substance shown in mypatent above referred to.

My improvement specifically described in its preferred form consists ofa ring 16 swiveled intermediate the length of one of I the handle bars,and a hook 17 adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the ringand having a threaded shank passing through the hand-grip of the otherhandle-bar 13, where it is provided with a nut 18, arranged todraw thehook outwardly.

In using the stopper having my improvement, the body of the stopper,fully collapsed, is passed through an opening in the top or side of themain and is placed at an inclination at that side of the main from whichthe gas is flowing, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The handle bar having thering and which is connected to the bottom of the stopper, is then drawnoutwardly, to position the stopper crosswise of the main. The hook isthen engaged in the ring, and on tightening the nut on the shank of thehook, the handle-bar at the top is forced inwardly, and theinwardly-extending handle-bar is pulled outwardly, thus tending to turnthe body of the stopper farther crosswise of the main and locking it inplace and effectually stopping the flow of gas.

I am aware that prior to my invention, devices have been constructedengaging one side wall of the pipe, for exerting pressure on one of thehandle-bars of a stopper of this general character, to vary theinclination of the stopper in the main; but I believe it to be broadlynew to provide such a device with means to simultaneously exert forceson the handle-bars in opposite directions and locking the said barstogether.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a gas main stopper having handle-bars connectedthereto at approximately diametrically opposite points, and means tosimultaneously force one of the handle-bars inwardly and draw the otherhandle-bar outwardly to lock the stopper in the gas main.

2. The combination of a gas main stopper having handle-bars connectedthereto, a ring connected intermediate the length of one of thehandle-bars, and a hook adapted to be engaged and disengaged with andfrom the ring and having a threaded shank adjustable on the otherhandle-bar.

3. The combination of a gas main stopper having handle-bars connectedthereto, the handles movable relatively to each other in the directionof their lengths, and means carried by the handle-bars to simultaneouslyexert forces thereon in opposite directions, said means being detachablyengaged.

&. The combination of a gas main stopper having handle-bars pivotallyconnected thereto at approximately diametrically 0pposite points, eachbar having a hand-grip and a hook having a threaded shank passingthrough the hand-grip of one of the handle-bars, and a nut threaded 0nthe shank of the hook and bearing on said grip.

5. The combination of an expansible gas main stopper having handle-barsconnected thereto at approximately diametrically opposite points, adevice carried intermedi ate the length of one of the handle-bars, and amember adjustable 0n the other handle-bar, having means to engage saiddevice and force the handle-bars in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence oi tWo subscribing Witnesses.

PATRICK GOODMAN.

Witnesses GRACE OSBORN, MAY M. MANUs.

